U.S. General Services Administration
Kenneth G. Ward Land Port of Entry
The Kenneth G. Ward Land Port of Entry is a limited-service port of entry, operating 16 hours daily serving personal vehicles, buses, and limited commercial truck traffic between Lynden, Washington and Aldergrove, British Columbia. It is no longer able to meet the operational needs of Customs and Border Protection with an acute impact on international commerce. The port’s limited commercial capability results in unbalanced demand and escalating wait times at other commercial ports throughout Western Washington. The expansion project will expand, separate and relocate POV and commercial screening operations in order to expand the port into a 24-hour, full-service port. When completed, the port at Lynden will feature five POV lanes and four commercial processing lanes.
LPOE details
Fact sheet: Kenneth G. Ward LPOE Fact Sheet March 2023 [PDF - 1 MB]
Address: 9949 WA-539, Lynden, WA 98264
Year constructed: 1986
Port size: 4.7 acres
Estimated Budget: $90 million – $100 million
Primary tenant:
U.S. Customs and Border Protection
Current status
GSA is working with our contractor to evaluate the possible environmental impacts of the proposed project. See the environmental section on this page more information.
Environmental review
GSA awarded a contract to Solv LLC, a small business, for the environmental impact statement on December 20, 2022.
Project news
Project timeline
| Planning | Design | Construction |
|---|---|---|
|
Project development study |
Design-build award |
Construction start date Substantial completion |
Bipartisan Infrastructure Law
We received $3.4 billion to invest in our nation’s infrastructure and competitiveness. The law provides funding for LPOE modernization projects that will create new good-paying jobs, bolster safety and security, and make our economy more resilient to supply chain challenges — all while serving as models for sustainability and innovation.
Sustainability opportunities
We will increase energy and water efficiency (including renewable energy and fossil fuel free measures), adhere to sustainable design principles, and minimize climate risk liabilities above the minimum performance criteria in a manner that is life cycle cost-effective.
- Net-zero ready
- 80% fossil fuel-energy generated reduction
- Green Proving Ground technology
- LEED Gold/SITES Silver
- Whole-building embodied carbon reduction
Community impact
The project aims to upgrade the port so it has the capacity to operate 24-hours. This would alleviate traffic congestion here and at the nearby Sumas Land Port of Entry. The project will help improve traffic flow and border security while decreasing wait times for travelers.